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The Struggle Between Old and New Nature in Christians

The concept of a struggle between an "old nature" and a "new nature" within Christians arises from biblical passages that describe a transformative experience upon conversion, often termed "new creation" or "new birth" [5]. This transformation signifies a fundamental change in a person's identity and orientation [6].

The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" [2]. The Geneva Bible of 1599 renders this similarly: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, let him be a newe creature. Olde things are passed away: beholde, all things are become newe" [1]. This "new creature" (Greek: kainē ktisis) implies a new nature entirely distinct from what existed before, not merely a recent modification [8]. John Gill explains that being "in Christ" can refer to an eternal union established by God's election and covenant, and also to an open, experiential union that occurs at conversion when an individual believes and commits to Christ [7]. Adam Clarke emphasizes that this new creation means a change from being a "child of Satan" and a "slave of sin" to a "child of God" with "fruit unto holiness" [10].

This newness is contrasted with the "old sinful nature" [6]. The term "flesh" (Greek: sarx) in the New Testament often denotes this sinful element, representing mutability, weakness, and the corruption of human nature [4, 9]. John Gill elaborates that "flesh" in this context refers to the corruption that remains even in regenerate persons, propagated by carnal generation and manifesting in "fleshly" lusts and works [9]. This "old nature" is seen as incompatible with the "new nature," much like new cloth tears old garments or new wine bursts old wineskins, illustrating that Jesus did not come to patch up the old covenant but to establish a new one [12].

The "new birth" or "new creation" is understood as a work of God, effected by Christ and the Holy Spirit, often through the instrumentality of God's Word and the ministry of the gospel [5]. It is a spiritual rebirth, where a person becomes a "child of God" through faith [13].

Despite this radical transformation, the "old nature" does not entirely disappear in the Christian life. Instead, a conflict ensues between the remaining corruption and the newly implanted divine nature. Paul describes this struggle in Romans 7, a passage that has been interpreted in two main ways: either as the conflict within an unregenerate, yet convinced, soul, or as the ongoing struggle within a renewed, sanctified soul that is still imperfect [11]. Matthew Henry notes this "great controversy" regarding the interpretation of Romans 7, highlighting the tension between grace and corruption [11].

The "new covenant" itself, which is established through Christ, is described as succeeding the "old broken covenant of works" [3]. This new covenant is characterized as "ever fresh, flourishing, and excellent," dispensed with greater clarity, spirituality, and power than the old [3]. This theological framework underscores that the Christian life is not merely an adherence to new rules but a participation in a new reality, marked by an internal struggle as the believer learns to live out their new identity in Christ [6].

Sources

  1. II Corinthians “II Corinthians 5:17 (Geneva1599) — Therefore if any man be in Christ, let him be a newe creature. Olde things are passed away: beholde, all things are become newe.”
  2. King James Version “[KJV] 2 Corinthians 5:17 — Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: New Testament — (Luke 22:20), rather "New Covenant," in contrast to the old covenant of works, which is superseded. "The covenant of grace is called new; it succeeds to the old broken covenant of works. It is ever fresh, flourishing, and excellent; and under the gospel it is dispensed in a more clear, spiritual, extensive, and powerful manner than of old" (Brown of Haddington). Hence is derived the name given to the latter portion of the Bible. (See [438]TESTAMENT.)”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Flesh — In the Old Testament denotes (1) a particular part of the body of man and animals (Gen. 2:21; 41:2; Ps. 102:5, marg.); (2) the whole body (Ps. 16:9); (3) all living things having flesh, and particularly humanity as a whole (Gen. 6:12, 13); (4) mutability and weakness (2 Chr. 32:8; comp. Isa. 31:3; Ps. 78:39). As suggesting the idea of softness it is used in the expression "heart of flesh" (Ezek. 11:19). The expression "my flesh and bone" (Judg. 9:2; Isa. 58:7) denotes relationship. In the New Testament, besides these it is also used to denote the sinful eleme”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: New Birth, The — The corruption of human nature requires -- Joh 3:6; Ro 8:7,8. None can enter heaven without -- Joh 3:3. Effected by God. -- Joh 1:13; 1Pe 1:3. Christ. -- 1Jo 2:29. The Holy Spirit. -- Joh 3:6; Tit 3:5. Through the instrumentality of The word of God. -- Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23. The resurrection of Christ. -- 1Pe 1:3. The ministry of the gospel. -- 1Co 4:15. Is of the will of God -- Jas 1:18. Is of the mercy of God -- Tit 3:5. Is for the glory of God -- Isa 43:7. Described as A new creation. -- 2Co 5:17; Ga 6:15; Eph 2:10. Newness of life. -- Ro 6:4. A spir”
  6. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:9: 3:9-10 your old sinful nature . . . your new nature: Paul contrasts old and new identities (see also Rom 5:12-21; 6:6; Eph 4:22-24). Believers strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live.”
  7. 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 5:16: Therefore if any man be in Christ,.... There's a secret being in Christ from everlasting; so all that are loved by him, espoused unto him, chosen and preserved in him, to whom he was a covenant head, surety, and representative, are in him, united to him, and one with him; not in such sense as the Father is in him, and the human nature is in him, but as husband and wife, and head and members are one: and there is an open being in Christ at conversion, when a man believes in Christ, and gives up himself to him; faith does not put a man into Christ, but makes him ”
  8. 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore--connected with the words in Co2 5:16, "We know Christ no more after the flesh." As Christ has entered on His new heavenly life by His resurrection and ascension, so all who are "in Christ" (that is, united to Him by faith as the branch is In the vine) are new creatures (Rom 6:9-11). "New" in the Greek implies a new nature quite different from anything previously existing, not merely recent, which is expressed by a different Greek word (Gal 6:15). creature--literally, "creation," and so the creature resulting from the creation (compa”
  9. Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 5:16: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,.... By "flesh" is meant, not the carnal or literal sense of the Scripture, which is Origen's gloss, as militating against the spiritual sense of it; nor the sensual part of man rebelling against his rational powers; but the corruption of nature, which still is in regenerate persons: and is so called because it is propagated by carnal generation; has for its object carnal things; its lusts and works are fleshly; and though it has its seat in the heart, it shows itself in the flesh or members of the body, which are yielded as”
  10. 2 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 5:17: If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature - It is vain for a man to profess affinity to Christ according to the flesh, while he is unchanged in his heart and life, and dead in trespasses and sins; for he that is in Christ, that is, a genuine Christian, having Christ dwelling in his heart by faith, is a new creature; his old state is changed: he was a child of Satan, he is now a child of God; he was a slave of sin, and his works were death; he is now made free from sin, and has his fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. He was before full of pr”
  11. Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 7:14: Here is a description of the conflict between grace and corruption in the heart, between the law of God and the law of sin. And it is applicable two ways: - 1. To the struggles that are in a convinced soul, but yet unregenerate, in the person of whom it is supposed, by some, that Paul speaks. 2. To the struggles that are in a renewed sanctified soul, but yet in a state of imperfection; as other apprehend. And a great controversy there is of which of these we are to understand the apostle here. So far does the evil prevail here, when he speaks of one sold under sin”
  12. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 5:36: 5:36-38 a new garment . . . new wine: New cloth shrinks when washed and so tears the old; new wine expands with fermentation and breaks brittle old wineskins. In either case, both old and new are ruined. Both illustrations make the point that the old is incompatible with the new. Jesus did not come to patch up the old covenant, but to establish a new one. The Kingdom of God brings a whole new orientation to thinking and living.”
  13. Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 33:25: His flesh shall be fresher than a child's - He shall be born a new creature. He shall return to the days of his youth - He shall be born again, and become a child of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.”
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